Page 149 of Ravaged Soul
“How do you know Gunnar Slaughter?” Warner doesn’t beat around the bush.
Seeing Blaine’s surprise is a novelty. He clearly didn’t expect Axel to come clean. The fact that he knew about the deceit all along only adds to the burn of betrayal I’m sure we all feel.
“Professionally,” Blaine responds.
“Meaning?”
“He’s known to the criminal underworld.”
I watch Warner pinch the bridge of his nose. “Be more specific.”
“Gunnar provides services to the international community. We met years ago while I was running a drug operation in Argentina. He’s done a few jobs for me over the years.”
“What kind of services?” Axel gets hold of his emotions long enough to ask.
“Your research didn’t turn that information up?”
“Fuck you, Madden. You’re playing with forces that you don’t understand.”
“I think I understand a lot more than you do, pup. This is above your pay grade.”
“Don’t antagonise him,” Warner barks, halting their heated stare off. “Just answer the question.”
Blaine tears his dark gaze away, delaying an all-out war. I have a feeling that Axel would be happy to get his favourite knives out to play for Blaine’s execution right about now.
“Gunnar Slaughter is what we would call a bounty hunter.” Blaine shrugs. “Codename, The Hunter. He only takes the most complex cases and charges fees higher than the GDP of most European nations.”
“How do you know this?” Warner presses.
“Because I used him to track down your precious little jailbird almost a year ago.” His black stare strays to me. “The Hunter found Ember for us.”
No one speaks for a second. Then the whole room erupts with shouts and questions. Only I don’t have a single word to offer. Not yet. All I can do is stare back at Blaine, attempting to fathom his mind.
Regardless of his motivations, he rescued me. It sounds like that cost him a pretty penny too. I was a bargaining chip then. A tasty morsel to be dangled in front of his prey. What I need to know now is whether or not that’s really changed.
“Enough!” Warner shouts over the barrage of voices. “This doesn’t explain what on earth this man is doing in London, butting into our criminal case.”
“He’s supposed to be on a job for me.” Blaine rolls his lip piercing.
“What job?” Hyland booms.
When Blaine drops his stare from mine, I know we’re in for a treat.
“I hired him to locate Gracie Livingstone.”
“You did what?” I blurt out.
“It’s the fastest way to locate the girl.” He smooths a hand down his clean t-shirt. “You wanted her found, right?”
“Well… yes. Obviously.”
“So I called Gunnar. He agreed to take the hit.”
“The hit?” Axel splutters.
“The case, the target, whatever.” Blaine waves him off, unaffected. “He’s supposed to be tracking our missing girl, not gallivanting around London and mowing down rogue criminals.”
“Clearly, he’s not! My psycho brother is here right now!”
